Lifting device

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a lifting device employing a single upright member having a continuous chain or the like arranged thereon with shiftable article engaging elements carried thereby which elements are swingable into and out of alignment with the predetermined lifting area and are likewise removable from the continuous element. A drive mechanism is provided for individual lifting devices with a master control arrangement to coordinate a plurality of these lifting devices.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Roger Tegtmeier [56] References Cited 1 N 22 32 58051 UNITED STATES PATENTS [211 App r 'o. Filed Nov. 26, 1968 ,908,498 10/1959 Becraft 187/16X [4 Patented Jan. 12, 1971 Primary Examiner-Robert C. Riordon Assistant ExaminerDavid R. Melton Anorne \'.lames R. Cvvayna v 7 ABSTRACT: This invention relates to a lifting device employ- [54] F ing a single upright member having a continuous chain or the anus rawmg like arranged thereon with shiftable article engaging elements [52] U.S. Cl 254/1, carried thereby which elements are swingable into and out of 254/148, 254/89, 254/134 alignment with the predetermined lifting area and are likewise [51] Int. Cl B661 7/12 removable from the continuous element. A drive mechanism [50] Field of Search 254/1, 4, is provided for individual lifting devices with a master control arrangement to coordinate a plurality of these lifting devices.

LIFI'ING DEVICE In raising silos, storage tanks and the like, it is often necessary to provide a coordinated lifting device which will lift about the circumference or periphery of the unit being constructed such that the unit may be lifted evenly. With applicants lifting device a substantially long vertical support strut is provided with a continuous chain member or the like arranged for driving therearound with article engaging elements carried by the chain with a drive mechanism for powering the chain. The individual devices may all be controlled from a master control unit such that electrical energy may be directed simultaneously to a plurality of such devices or each device may be actuated individually.

With the unit provided by applicant a positive driving force is delivered to each of the chain lifting mechanisms and through the utilization of worm gears or the like the devices will be substantially self-holding and will hold the load in any position at which the electrical energy is stopped. The units are provided with reversing power sources such that the unit to be constructed may be either lowered or raised.

Further, in accordance with applicants concept, article engaging elements carried by the chain are provided of removable and shiftable construction to facilitate their association with the unit to be lifted. This type of arrangement of course provides means for interchanging various types of unit lifting or unit grasping elements.

It is therefore an object of applicants invention to provide a continuous chain lift mechanism or the like arranged in substantially vertical relation upon a single strut member.

It is a further object of applicants invention to provide a source of power for a continuous chain lift mechanism which will permit proper location of the article grasping elements thereof through either a forward or reverse driving arrangement.

It is a further object of applicants invention to provide a control mechanism for a plurality of individual jack or lifting devices such that a plurality of such devices may be controlled to lift relatively large structures at a uniform rate.

It is a further object of applicant's invention to provide article engaging elements on a continuous chain lift device which elements are interchangeable and removable and shiftable about'a predetermined axis of the unit to more readily adapt themselves to engage the article to be lifted.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. I is a top plan view illustrating a plurality of lift devices embodying the concepts of applicant's invention being utilized to lift about the periphery of a member;

FIG. 2 is a section taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of one of applicnts units illustrating the lower portions thereof;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation taken from F 16.3; and

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

In accordance with the accompanying drawings the individual lifting devices generally designated are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 as being in position to lift a circular section R of a silo or other similar storage unit. The individual devices are controlled through a central control panel 11 which receives power from an external source through an electrical conductor 12. This central control. 11 provides outlets for directing electrical energy to the individual units 10 through conductors l3 and the control panel 11 may provide controls for operating the units either individually or simultaneously and may obviously be provided with reversing control arrangements to permit the units 10 to lift the ring R upwardly and to return to receive and lift another ring section.

In the form shown individual brace members 14 are provided as additional support structures and are mounted to a common plate 15 arranged generally centrally of the ring R to manded by the installation in which the units I0 are utilized but it should be obvious that in certain situations it is necessary to provide this vertical support 14 for the units 10.

The lifting devices 10 in the form shown include a base member 20 with an upright vertical support strut 21 arranged generally normally thereto. The support strut in the form shown may take the form of an l-beam or an H-beam which will provide a pair of outwardly disposed flanges 22-22 with an inner support web 23 extending the vertical height thereof. A first chain carrying sprocket generally designated 24 is arranged within an aperture 25 defined within the web area 23 of the strut 21 and this sprocket arrangement includes a drive shaft 26 extending through the strut 21 and mounted for rotation in bearings 27-28 on the respective flanges 22 of the strut 21. The sprocket itself 29 is attached for rotation with the drive shaft 26 and the shaft 26 extends to a first drive geared mechanism generally designated 30.

The drive mechanism 30 in the form shown includes an electric motor 31 feeding into a gear reduction system 32 from which a worm gear and reduction situation provides a positive driving connection to the sprocket 24 and the associated lifting elements. In the form shown a second idler sprocket generally designated 35 is arranged on the upper end of the aforementioned supporting strut 21 and of course this sprocket 35 is bearingly mounted through pillow blocks 36 or the like fixedly attached to the upper end of the strut 21. Arranged about the pair of sprockets 29-35 is a continuous chain element designated 37. Naturally the chain element will be driven by the lower sprocket 29 and revolve about the upper sprocket 35 and will normally travel between the flanges 22-22 of the strut 21.

The article lifting and contacting device is carried directly by the chain 37 and includes a front mounting plate 40 with a plurality of attachment members such as nuts and bolts 41 passing therethrough and through apertures formed in the roller chain 37 such that the frontal plate 40 may be securely attached thereto for movement therewith. Arranged on the opposite sides of the frontal plate 40 are .respective pairs of vertically and axially aligned tubular housing members 42- -43. These housing members 42-43 provide the basis for a hinge structure for the article contacting elements 44-45. A pin member designated 46 is received through the axial aligned housing members 4243 and will serve to connect the article contacting elements 44-45 thereto. Pin member 46 may be provided with a ring 47 or the like to assist in lifting the same from the hinge structure.

The article contacting elements 44-45 include a generally tubular first member 48 of a longitudinal length to be received between the aforementioned spaced housing elements 42-43 and this member is likewise tubular to permit the pin 46 to fit therethrough thereby anchoring the article lifting devices 44- 45 to the frontal plate 40. The article lifting devices include in addition to the tubing member a generally vertical plate 49 having a forwardly disposed member 50 arranged at the lower lowermost thereof. This structure then provides an L-shaped device having the tubular arrangement 48 securely attached thereto.

It should be obvious and as illustrated in FIG. 5 that this lifting device 45 is rotatable about the axis established by the housings 4243 and associated pins 46.

This hinged and easily removable and replacable lifting structure 44-45 affords a degree of latitude for attaching devices or articles to be lifted to the lifting structure itself. Obviously as illustrated, apertures 51 may be provided in the lower lifting plates 50 to also afford connection of the plates to the articles to be lifted as illustrated in FIG. 2.

With the applicants device it should be obvious that the individual lifting elements 10 may be used as completely seperable devices without control through the common control unit ing unit including:

it, although in many applications the multiplicity of lifting It should be obvious that the applicant has provided a unique continuous lifting element which provides a particularly unique article contacting arrangement thereon.

, jl claim: 1. An article lifting device including:

a. a base;

b. a generally vertical support strut arranged on said base;

0. a first drive element rotatably mounted on said strut;

d. a second rotatably mounted element arranged on said strut in spaced relation from said drive element;

e. a continuous driven element'arranged in circumscribing relation about said first and second elements;

f. means for driving said first drive element; and

g. an article engaging unit carried by said continuous element including 1. a generally outwardly extending leg portion; and

2, means for releasable, rotatably mounting said leg portion onsaid continuous dri'ven element.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 and said first and second elements comprising sprocket members, said continuous driven element comprising a chain member.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2 and said article engaga. a pair of longitudinally spaced, axially aligned, pin receiving members mounted on said chain;

b. said outwardly extending leg portion provided with a pin receiving member positionable between said pin receiving members; and

c. a removable pin member receivable into said pin receiving member and said leg portion to rotatably mount said leg portion to said chain.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3 wherein said article engaging unit includes respective pairs of pin receiving members arranged in the respective sides of said chain member to provide mounting means for pairs of said outwardly extending leg portions.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4 and said pairs of said pin receiving members mounted on respective edges of a plate,

member, 'said plate member being removably attached to said chain member. 1 i

6. The structure set forth in claim 1 and said support strut including a beam of substantially l-shaped cross section, said first drive element being rotatably mounted in the web portion thereof whereby said continuous element will normally travel between the flange portions thereof;

7. The structure set forth in claim 1 and said means for driving said first drive element include motor means receiving power from an external source.

8. The structure set forth in claim 7 and control means controlling said external source of power for simultaneously controlling a plurality of said article lifting devices. 

1. An article lifting device including: a. a base; b. a generally vertical support strut arranged on said base; c. a first drive element rotatably mounted on said strut; d. a second rotatably mounted element arranged on said strut in spaced relation from said drive element; e. a continuous driven element arranged in circumscribing relation about said first and second elements; f. means for driving said first drive element; and g. an article engaging unit carried by said continuous element including
 1. a generally outwardly extending leg portion; and
 2. means for releasable, rotatably mounting said leg portion on said continuous driven element.
 2. means for releasable, rotatably mounting said leg portion on said continuous driven element.
 2. The structure set forth in claim 1 and said first and second elements comprising sprocket members, said continuous driven element comprising a chain member.
 3. The structure set forth in claim 2 and said article engaging unit including: a. a pair of longitudinally spaced, axially aligned, pin receiving members mounted on said chain; b. said outwardly extending leg portion provided with a pin receiving member positionable between said pin receiving members; and c. a removable pin member receivable into said pin receiving member and said leg portion to rotatably mount said leg portion to said chain.
 4. The structure set forth in claim 3 wherein said article engaging unit includes respective pairs of pin receiving members arranged in the respective sides of said chain member to provide mounting means for pairs of said outwardly extending leg portions.
 5. The structure set forth in claim 4 and said pairs of said pin receiving members mounted on respective edges of a plate member, said plate member being removably attached to said chain member.
 6. The structure set forth in claim 1 and said support strut including a beam of substantially I-shaped cross section, said first drive element being rotatably mounted in the web portion thereof whereby said continuous element will normally travel between the flange portions thereof.
 7. The structure set forth in claim 1 and said means for driving said first drive element include motor means receiving power from an external source.
 8. The structure set forth in claim 7 and control means controlling said external soUrce of power for simultaneously controlling a plurality of said article lifting devices. 